Mors Per Mare (ATEEZ FF)

13

Choi Jongho

I knocked twice before entering the infirmary for the third time today. Yeosang was bent over his herbs, organizing and taking stock. "You called for me?" I was still a little warm after just having come from restocking the ship with Mingi, and I dabbed at the sweat with my sleeve.

"She's having the nightmare again," Yeosang said, stopping his count to cast a glance at the figure on the bed. "I wouldn't have called you... but she was screaming a few moments ago and she seems to calm down when she hears your voice." I nodded quickly, taking a seat on the stool Yeosang left beside her for me.

"Y/N?" I murmured. The tremors in her body slowed. "It's just a dream, you're okay." I reached for her hand and began to trace the creases in her delicate palms. As was my habit since she had passed out on top of me a day and a half ago. Soon enough, she seemed to be sleeping peacefully.

Yeosang spoke then, knowing that he could now that she had been soothed. "How's Mingi?"

"He's afraid to come see her, he feels like it's his fault... but Yeosang, have you ever heard of a little old woman that tells fortunes in Port Royal."

"There are many fortune teller tents scattered all throughout the docks, why do you ask?" He answered.

"Mingi said something about a woman that he and Y/N saw before she disappeared. He thinks she may have something to do with her collapse. He said she didn't have a shop though, she had just latched onto Y/N and then read her fortune. He thought she was some pickpocket but she didn't take anything from them." I explained, recalling what Mingi told the captain this morning in his recollection of the events before you disappeared and then later collapsed.

"Did he tell you what she said?"

"She said a little rhyme about Y/N's days being numbered.... I think it was something like leaving the ship and a task that was given to her would bring her death."

Forgetting Y/N's hand for a moment, I had let go and as soon as I finished the words, she started to thrash. Mouthing a single phrase over and over again, but neither Yeosang or I could understand.

Y/N.

"What do you want from me!?" You screamed once more. "I've done nothing wrong!" Your hands tightened on the iron bars of the navy ship's brig, your knuckles whitening.

Only... they weren't really your knuckles and it wasn't really your voice. In fact, you couldn't even see clearly, everything was a sort of blurry haze.

"Quiet!" A hand slapped the cheek you had pressed against the bars, and a few more pushed you back into the ship's wall, making you collapse. "You've done well to rid the world of such a vile creature, Captain Kim."

You froze, seeing a red haired man step into the candlelight. At first glance it looked like Hongjoong and then you noticed the differences in his chin, which protruded far more than the soft round chin that Hongjoong had, and the conniving and cold look that he held in his eye.

"Now muzzle the wench before it gets too loud again." The first voice spoke again.

The door swung open on its hinges and you, or whoever the eyes you were seeing though belonged to scrambled back. "No, please." You whimpered to the redhead. But he took the dirty rag and tied it into mouth anyways, gagging you.

With that, you were left alone again in the complete darkness of the brig. A muffled noise bubbled up from your throat but you understood it. You understood every single syllable.

"Salvum me. Timeo."

"Y/n! Y/n, wake up!" Your eyes flew open to see Jongho shaking you awake.